A Lesson in Irony

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A Lesson in Irony
We have discussed how literature is a way for
writers to share a message with the reader. Just
how are the authors we will be studying getting
their message across? Irony is just one of the
writing tools an artist uses to sharpen his or
her point.

• Irony applies to situations where there is a gap
  or disconnect between what is expected and what
  actually happens. It can also be an implied
  discrepancy, or gap, between what is said and
  what is meant.

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Ironic by Alanis Morissette

• An old man turned ninety-eightHe won the
  lottery and died the next dayIt's a black fly in
  your ChardonnayIt's a death row pardon two
  minutes too lateAnd isn't it ironic... don't you
  thinkChorus
• It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's a
  free ride when you've already paidIt's the good
  advice that you just didn't takeWho would've
  thought... it figuresMr. Play It Safe was
  afraid to flyHe packed his suitcase and kissed
  his kids goodbyeHe waited his whole damn life to
  take that flightAnd as the plane crashed down he
  thought"Well isn't this nice..."And isn't it
  ironic... don't you think repeat Chorus

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• Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on
  youWhen you think everything's okay and
  everything's going rightAnd life has a funny way
  of helping you out whenYou think everything's
  gone wrong and everything blows upIn your
  faceA traffic jam when you're already lateA
  no-smoking sign on your cigarette breakIt's like
  ten thousand spoons when all you need is a
  knifeIt's meeting the man of my dreamsAnd then
  meeting his beautiful wifeAnd isn't it
  ironic...don't you thinkA little too
  ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...
• Chorus
• It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's a
  free ride when you've already paidIt's the good
  advice that you just didn't takeWho would've
  thought... it figuresLife has a funny way of
  sneaking up on youLife has a funny, funny way of
  helping you outHelping you out

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Wheres the irony in the song?

• What examples irony did you find in the song
  Ironic?
• What is the mood of the song?

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Dramatic Irony

• Produced when the audiences or readers
  knowledge of events surpasses that of the
  characters. The words and actions therefore, take
  on a different meaning for the audience/ reader
  than for the characters.

• A few examples
• Shakespearean soliloquies
• Romeo and Juliet
• Common technique used in horror movies

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Situational Irony

• A discrepancy between the expected and the actual
  state of affairs a contradictory or badly-timed
  outcome of events as if in mockery of the fitness
  of things. Simply, the unexpected happens.

• A few examples
• A firefighters house burns down
• Stories with a surprise ending i.e the homicide
  detective ends up being the murderer.

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Verbal Irony

• The use of words to express something other than
  (and especially the opposite of) the literal
  meaning. Especially the humorous use of praise to
  imply condemnation or contempt.

• A few examples
• You are as a candle, the better burnt out.
  Henry IV, part 2
• Sarcasm saying the opposite of what you really
  feel in an attempt to be funny or illicit a
  response

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A few questions for discussion
What are some of the cultural functions and/or
purposes of literature and music? What are the
possible intentions of artists when they create
popular (or not so popular) music for an audience
?
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Lets Review-What is Irony?

• Irony is an implied discrepancy, or gap, between
  what is said and what is meant. Also applies to
  situations where there is a gap between what is
  expected and what actually happens.

Sometimes as cultural observers and participants
we are expected to bridge that gap.
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Sleeping In by The Postal Service

• Last week I had the strangest dreamWhere
  everything was exactly how it seemedWhere there
  was never any mystery of who shot John F.
  KennedyIt was just a man with something to
  proveSlightly bored and severely confusedHe
  steadied his rifle with his target in the
  centerAnd became famous on that day in
  NovemberDon't wake me I plan on sleepingDon't
  wake me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I
  plan on sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleeping
  in

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• Again last night I had that strange dreamWhere
  everything was exactly how it seemedWhere
  concerns about the world getting warmerThe
  people thought they were just being rewardedFor
  treating others as they'd like to be treatedFor
  obeying stop signs and curing diseasesFor
  mailing letters with the address of the
  senderNow we can swim any day in November
• Don't wake me I plan on sleeping Don't wake
  me I plan on sleeping inDon't wake me I plan on
  sleepingDon't wake me I plan on sleeping in